Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get right into it for the Kohala Lighthouse area. It’s a tricky outlook, I’ll be honest. This is a spot that needs a clean window, and for most of this run, the wind is just not playing ball.

Right out of the gate, from Saturday the 8th, we’ve got a fresh cross-shore wind blowing at about 22 mph, and the surf is sitting around 5 ft of short-period ENE windswell. That’s weak and lumpy. This pattern just locks in day after day. Sunday the 9th, Monday the 10th, Tuesday the 11th – it’s the same story. The swell size pushes up to 7 ft by Sunday afternoon, but that consistent 19 mph cross-breeze is just killing any chance of it cleaning up. The water temperature here is about 80°, which is average for this time of year.

This messy, cross-shore blast carries right through Wednesday, Thursday, and into Friday the 14th. By Friday afternoon, we’re seeing the swell jump to 8 ft from the ENE with a bit more period, and the energy is building. But the wind goes cross-onshore at 22 mph, so it’s lumpy and choppy. Honestly, this whole first week is a write-off for a decent paddle session. If you’ve got a kite, you might find some fun in that strong cross-onshore wind on Saturday the 15th, with swell hitting 12 ft, but for a surfboard? Nah.

Then, we finally get a window. Sunday the 16th is the standout. A moderate offshore SSW wind blows at 16 mph, and it cleans everything right up. The swell is still a solid 10 ft to 12 ft from the ENE, so this is not for beginners – this is big, powerful stuff for experienced surfers only. The period is short, so it’s not a classic groundswell, but with that offshore wind grooming the faces, it’s going to be a heavy, hollow day. That’s your only shot.

After that tease, it’s back to the grind. From Monday the 17th onward, the cross-shore wind returns. Swell hangs around 6 ft to 7 ft for the rest of the week. A few days around the 21st and 22nd show a slight drop in wind speed to 12-16 mph, which is an improvement, but still far from clean. The swell direction is straight east or east-northeast, and with that constant cross-breeze, it’s going to be frustrating. There are no other standouts in this window. It’s a long stretch of bumpy, onshore slop.

So, to put it plainly: if you’re an experienced surfer, mark your calendar for Sunday the 16th. That’s the only day with offshore wind and serious size. For everyone else, it’s a lot of waiting and watching the wind.

Rusty, signing off.

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